CROATIA CONFIRMS PARTNERSHIP RELATIONS WITH BOSNIA

ZAGREB, March 15 (Hina) - The Croatian Foreign Ministry on Thursday forwarded a note to the Bosnian Foreign Ministry, reiterating that equality, good neighbourly relations and complete mutual respect for the two countries' territorial integrity and sovereignty were essential principles of partnership relations between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Croatia on Wednesday received a note from the Bosnian Ministry confirming Zagreb as an important factor and partner in the stabilisation and democratisation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, but did not comment on an unofficial Croatian initiative on the reorganisation of Bosnia according to which the country would become a federate state with 12 to 14 cantons, a two-cameral parliament and the annulment of the present two entities -- the Croat-Moslem Bosnian Federation and the Serb entity of Republika Srpska. The Croatian Foreign Ministry stressed that stability, democratic and economic progress of Bosnia-Herzegovina and its accession into European institutions were questions of the highest interest for Croatia. The Croatian government endorses the framework of the Dayton Agreement and accentuates that Croatia, in line with its Constitution and as one of the signatories to the Dayton peace accords, continues to care about the position of the Croat people in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Pointing out the fact that the present Croatian government has made its relations with Bosnian Croats completely transparent and has clearly shown its opting for not meddling into the interior affairs of a neighbouring country, the government's note reiterated its support to state institutions of Bosnia-Herzegovina and stressed its readiness to act beneficially to the stabilisation of the situation, initiating dialogue and the functioning of institutions of authority in Bosnia-Herzegovina. (hina) lml sb